Re: Futile bug reports?

[Raymond Zeitler]

richter@math.northwestern.edu (Bill Richter) writes:

> >>>>> Raymond Zeitler <rayz@phonon.com.invalid> responds to me:
> 
>   >> If someone gets interested in Emacs Lisp, I'll tell them they
>   >> should read a Scheme book like SICP by Abelson or `How to Design
>   >> Programs' by Felleisen [HTDP], and then the Emacs Lisp reference
>   >> manual will make sense to them.  I can't see how anyone could
>   >> understand the Emacs Lisp reference manual without having prior
>   >> knowledge of Scheme/Lisp.
>   >> 
> 
>   Ray> That why there's Introduction to Programming in Emacs Lisp, by
>   Ray> Robert J. Chassell.  Even I can understand it.  :-)
> 
> Thanks, Ray, I just re-read the parts on pointers.  I don't think it's
> a very good description, and I think the users will need SICP or
> HTDP.  Punchline right up top:

[...]

I feel I ought to respond, although I'm a bit flabbergasted to do so.

I'll start by apologizing.  You see, I'm actually still reading the
hardcopy of the Chassell text.  Now I realize I've spoken (or written)
out of turn because I've recommended something of which I don't yet
have a complete understanding.

In defense of the Chassell book, I should point out that the portions
I did read helped me understand the general contruction of Lisp
functions, and I'm motivated to write some useful snippets.  As well,
the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual no longer appears to me as jibberish.

I do have the background to understand pointers and linked lists.
Even though I read a few of the sections you cited, I did not pay
close attention to them.  Instead, I focused (and am focusing) on such
functions as "interactive", "save-excursion" etc.  After all, it is
possible to program in C without using pointers (unless you need to
pass a variable by reference....)

Finally, I'd like to thank you for pointing out areas where I'm bound
to become confused, once I decide to study the subject in greater
detail.  Your followup can serve as a bridge to those who've graduated
from Chassell but might still be struggling.